i turned the key got power to everything, radio came on and then click... i kept trying and no crank just a click... so i tried jumping the car and no luck

the dash lights would come on, but once i tried to start the car they would go off...

Nothing was left on except a dome light which my mechanic told me times-out after 16 minuts (think my GF left it on)... i was blaming her but it seems like its not her fault.

so i cant imagine my starter is dead or my alternator because i drove home at night last weekend and had no issues...

would a battery just go dead like that?

Called BMW roadside, and they wanted $350 to install a new battery...
I asked if they were serious and they said the battery is $212... i almost laughed on the phone... more for the fact that they wanted almost $150 to install it.

so my mechanic suggested hooking a jumper directly to the battery in the trunk, and then one to the front of the car and letting it sit for 20 min... then he said it should work.

I am looking for batteries on line and it doesnt seem like anyone has them for this car...

is it a big deal if i just get a regular 12V battery from sears or autozone?

Best buy for the money:
1. Duralast 49 D - sold by AutoZone ($69-$79)
2. Interstate MTP-93 - find local reseller at www.interstatebattery.com (approx $80-$125)
3. Douglas Battery 95R6 (mfg of the BMW battery) - sold by Batteries Plus (approx $80-$130)
4. Advance Auto sells an equivilent battery now in some locations...it too...is made by Johnson Controls...just like the Duralast, DieHard, Optima, etc.

Or, you can get the overpriced BMW battery.

DONT FORGET TO VENT your replacement battery...fail to vent...can cause explosion.

http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/feaqs/original/433594_219_full.jpg http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/433000-433999/433594_220.jpg

vent hose at rear of battery compartment:
http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/feaqs/original/433594_224_full.jpg

i called autozone and they dont have one for my car but the guy said they have one that will work it just wont show up for that car... he said 65 bucks which seems great, i was thinking of going to sears to get the lifetime warranty, just incase my car kills another one....

i was also considering jumping the car and driving it to where i'm going this weekend and hoping it charges... if not i'll jump it again and go buy one

what do you think... i'm suprised it just died like that

I had the same problem but my car would start on a jump start. My batter smelled like Sh*t. and even smoked a little. I just ordered a new alternator. So we will see if it all works out.

Same thing happened to me. Changed my battery and problem solved. I bought the OEM battery and installed it myself. Took approximately 5 minutes.

i called autozone and they dont have one for my car but the guy said they have one that will work it just wont show up for that car...what do you think... i'm suprised it just died like that
First...if the Duralast battery is not a 49D...then I would ask them to call another location and see if they have one...your car needs the cranking amps that this class size battery has. (again, make sure the vent kit is attached to the battery so that you can hook it up to your vent tube)

Yes, this is how BMW batteries usually die...all of a sudden...yet with the capacity to run the radio, lights, etc...but not enough power to start the car.

If you do a search of the BMW 7 series message boards...you will see that MANY owners have replaced their OE BMW battery with the batteries I listed in my first post. I also understand that some only like using oe parts...if you have the money and inclination...you can spend $200 for a battery. that has a white case and a BMW sticker on it...but even the Douglas battery is cheaper and the only difference is that the case is black instead of white...they mfg the BMW oe battery. :)

The Duralast, Interstate, Advance, DieHard, Optima (the ones that I can recall at this time)....are all mfg'd by the same company...Johnson Controls...for these various brand name and vendors. :)

i have no idea how it got lose, but i wen to jump the car from the rear and noticed that the neg terminal just moved around, so i tightened that up and that was it...

i still cant believe how that cause hours of frustration... dont know why BMW suggests to jump the car from the front, had i went right to the rear i would have noticed this problem a long time ago...

alls well that ends well